Missy Blog

Sometimes is can be hard making new friends. There are lots of reasons you may want new friends. Perhaps you have recently moved to a new town or your very best friend has just moved away. Perhaps you got into an irreconcilable argument with a friend or you realized they are simply not the friend for you. Sometimes shyness or fear of rejection can prevent you from taking the first step to forming a new friendship. What ever the case, not having a close friend can make you feel sad and isolated, and that is no way for a beautiful young lady with so much to offer to ever feel.

Rule number one for friendship is the “golden rule.” You must treat others as you would like to be treated. Would you want to be friends with you? Why? By making a list of the things you believe make you a good friend, you can figure out the qualities you would like in others. Then follow the advice in this article and you will be on your way to creating lasting and meaningful new friendships.

It is important to have opinions and beliefs, but if you think it’s always “my way or the highway,” you are sadly mistaken. Sure it’s great to find someone who loves everything that you do but it’s what makes us different that makes us special. If you accept that other people have a right to be different from you, then you open yourself up to the possibility of experiencing relationships that bring a fresh perspective to your own life.

Friendship takes time to develop. Don’t expect to become BFFs overnight. Take things one day at a time. Don’t share your life story or reveal all the skeletons in your closet right away or you may scare a potentially close friend away. Take it slowly and allow trust to develop. See how they react to safe secrets such as the cute celebrity you dream about meeting or the fact that you still have your baby blankie. Test the waters of trust before you tread any deeper.
 
There are many places to meet new friends. Many people make friends at work or school. Open yourself up to the opportunity to make friends at work by participating in special projects or helping to organize social events. At school you can consider joining a club or participating in a sport. Follow your interests so you can join groups that share the same interests as you.  For example, if you like to sing, join a school or church choir. Having a common bond with someone is often the first step to giving you the confidence to talk about other things. You may find that you share many interests with someone thus giving your new friendship a solid base.  If you don’t have any particular hobbies, consider joining a volunteer group with a charity that interests you.  You will share the same common bond as everyone in your volunteer group – helping others.

When meeting new people your body language says a lot about you. Look people in the eye when you speak to them and smile. Body languages such as looking at your feet or keeping your arms folded in front of you close you off rather than open you up to other people. People may get the impression that you don’t want to talk to them.

Once you’ve made a new friend, appreciate them and don’t take them for granted. Take the time to thank your friends for enhancing your life. Also, make sure to make time for your friendship to be nurtured. If you are consistently too busy to give time to your friends, they will one day move on without you. Ensure you make friendship an important priority. Actively listen to your friends, and show your interest and enthusiasm in their lives.

Be forgiving and compassionate – no one is perfect. Sometimes, a friend may do something of which you don’t approve. Put yourself in their shoes – try to support instead of judge.  
 
Keep a secret. Abuse of trust is very hard to forgive. You might think you’re building relationships with others by sharing gossip, but you’re actually ensuring that others won’t trust you enough to tell you anything. And if your friend finds out you abused their trust, your relationship with them is as good as over.
 
Now that you have the basic tips and tools for making new friends you need to take a deep breath, smile and get out there! Don’t rush it and don’t force it. It’s OK to be choosey so go for quality instead of quantity in your friendships.  You are worth it and only special people deserve to be your friend.